Life is but a dream
Opening Statement
This unorthodox aftermath of the Death of the Family Story arc was, in my opinion, brilliant. Admittedly it comes off as a bit odd, but with many symbolic meanings.
What Went Down (and what it means)
After the events of Death of the Family, sleep is a much needed thing for our heroes. As Batman, Robin, and Alfred all go to bed, their inner thoughts and subconscious desires come out to play. Let's be honest for a moment, these are not normal people; these are people who have been through many traumatic events and just went through one less than an hour before. Of course their dreams are going to be odd.
Damian's dream comes first on the form of all of the people he has learned from over the years drowning as he watches. His deep desire to be better than everyone mixed with his, very well hidden, compassion has him facing his greatest fear: himself as a heartless monster. This is what he would have become had it not been for all of these people. He then wakes up to see a Robin, as in the actual animal, and follows it to see it turn into a large bat, the actual animal, and start vampire feasting on his neck. This is yet another one of Damian's inner desires, to eventually become Batman, mixed with his desire to take the mantle for himself.
Alfred now has a dream where Bruce and Damian are happy, his deepest wish. Then the Joker makes his appearance bent on ruining their lives again. Alfred doesn't take his mess and simply guns him down without so much as a second thought. He then wakes up with a smile.
Bruce has his dream of failing. Failing to save the ones he loves, his parents, his family. Then as he drowns Damian helps him. This is a direct correlation to how Bruce feels as though he failed everyone, but Damian is this next Robin, this new Robin, who is helping him as much as Bruce is helping him back. He goes in to check on Damian, something not previously seen in the comics and rare for Batman comics as a whole. They then share a pleasant dream together.
Why I love it
This is a great way to wrap up the aftermath of the Death of the Family story arc. This brilliantly shows what these characters are thinking and really gives the readers a definite answer an insight to these characters and what they are thinking and experiencing. Very well done and I have nothing negative to say to be honest.
